Littlestar's IndiCert small fix for a big problem

Heli-Coil-type inserts are used in millions of assemblies across all manufacturing industries. Littlestar Plastics created the IndiCert to quickly identify whether the inserts were installed correctly. It's a small solution to a large problem. If even one threaded insert is installed correctly it can cause an entire shipment to be rejected.

MACHESNEY
PARK – Littlestar Plastics, which has for 25 years engineered and produced high
tolerance plastic components for major manufacturers, now is selling one of its
innovations on the open market.

Littlestar
created the IndiCert to quickly identify whether threaded inserts were
installed correctly. Threaded inserts are fasteners that are used to convert
long-lasting threads in plastic, metal, wood or composite materials. Before an
assembly containing threaded inserts is completed, the assembler twists the
IndiCert into the insert. If the driving tang is still in place or the threaded
insert was improperly installed or not installed at all then the IndiCert will
not seat.

Littlestar
works with companies in industries ranging from automotive and medical to food
service and fuel cells, but its major work is done in the precision aerospace
field. The IndiCert was developed initially for its aerospace customers.
Because Heli-Coil®-type inserts are used in so many products across so many
industries, Little Star is selling them through a newly created website, www.indicert.com. The company offers
25 different sizes to fit any threaded insert. Custom sizes are available.

Mistake Proof Made Simple

Phil Preston, president of Littlestar, said there has been no way to quickly identify whether all the threaded inserts have been installed and installed correctly. When even one is missed, it can cause a shipment to be rejected, which is bad for the company doing the assembly but even worse for t...

Phil Preston, president of Littlestar, said there has been no way to quickly identify whether all the threaded inserts have been installed and installed correctly. When even one is missed, it can cause a shipment to be rejected, which is bad for the company doing the assembly but even worse for those facing delays farther up the supply chain.

“A lot of the companies we work with are on very tight schedules and if they miss testing dates it can cost them millions,” Preston said. He said the brightly colored IndiCerts will make it easy to verify at a glance whether or not there is a problem. “You know you have an issue if you have a hole where an IndiCert should be.”

It’s
a simple fix but typical of Littlestar, which was founded by Preston in 1991.
Littlestar, which has nearly 50 employees, is the rare plastics company that
can both design and manufacture components, parts or assemblies and produce
them through fabrication, machining or injection molding.

“We’re
really a solutions company,” Preston said. “Companies come to us because our
engineers know how the manufacturing process works. We can get into a design,
break down the process and find a way to make it better.”

Littlestar
Plastics, which is based at 1189 Anvil Road, is both ISO9001 and AS9100
certified.